BarbaraC. Costanza

Shares of Staples Inc. (SPLS)
spls
could get a lift Friday morning. The company posted a second-quarter profit of 12 cents a share, a penny ahead of the consensus estimate. Same-store sales rose 14 percent over the year-ago period. Shares closed down 1 to 31 3/4.

Dillard Inc. (DDS)
DDS, -0.75%
, another retail giant, posted a better-than-expected second-quarter report. The company earned 45 cents a share vs. the consensus estimate of 44 cents. The report also exceeded last year's second-quarter profit of 40 cents a share. Shares rose 5/8 to close at 35 1/2.

Kmart Corp. (KM)
km
followed the other retailers with positive earnings news. The retailer earned 19 cents a share, 2 cents ahead of analysts' consensus estimate. In the year-ago period, the company posted a profit of 6 cents a share. Shares fell 7/8 to close at 17 13/16. See press release.

Gap Inc. (GPS)
GPS, +1.64%
reported positive earnings and a 42 percent growth in sales. The company posted a profit of 34 cents a share beating the consensus estimate by 4 cents and the year-ago profit by 17 cents a share. Net sales grew 42 percent to $1.90 billion from $1.34 billion in 1997. Shares fell 3 1/8 to close at 63 1/2. See press release.

The Buckle Inc (BKE)
BKE, +5.13%
reported a second-quarter profit of 26 cents a share, 3 cents ahead of the consensus estimate. The apparel retailer's shares fell 3/4 to close at 25 5/8. See press release.

News Corp. (NWS) reported earnings of 27 cents a U.S.-listed share, compared with a First Call estimate of 25 cents, in its fiscal fourth quarter. Shares closed down 5/16 to 26 7/8.

Hearst-Argyle Television (HTV)
htv
earned 39 cents a share, 1 cent ahead of the average estimate of analysts surveyed by First Call. Shares fell 3/4 to finish at 36 3/8.

NeoMagic Corp. (NMGC)
NMGC, +8.01%
reported a profit of 27 cents a share in its second quarter. The multimedia chipmaker was expected to earn 26 cents. NeoMagic earned 15 cents in the same period a year ago. Morgan Stanley analyst Mark Edelstone also made bullish comments on the company. NeoMagic shares gained 3/4 to close at 17. See Tech Report

After the market closed, The Pep Boys (PBY)
PBY, -6.41%
reported lower-than-expected earnings but record sales. The automotive parts suppier posted a second-quarter profit of 29 cents a share, a penny short of the consensus estimate. Sales for the quarter rose to $635.3 million compared to $539.2 million last year. Shares closed down 1/16 to 17 1/4.

Shares of catalog retailer Land's End (LE)
LE, +0.31%
closed off 18 percent after the company reported second-quarter earnings were at breakeven, or $0.00. Analysts expected the company to profit 11 cents a share. Shares fell 5 1/4 to 24 13/16. See related story.

Integrated circuit maker Unitrode Corp. (UTR)
UTR, -3.70%
posted earnings of 12 cents a share for the second quarter, including a charge of $600,000 for merger costs. The results were considerably below year-ago earnings of 33 cents. The consensus estimate of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was 13 cents a share. Unitrode rose 1 5/16 to close at 16 11/16.

Computer store CompUSA Inc. (CPU)
CPU, +0.17%
reported a wider-than-expected second-quarter loss. The company reported a 19-cent-a-share loss, excluding a one-time charge. Wall Street expected a loss of 18 cents. The company cited a delay in the release of Windows 98, delays in product transitions, limited product availability and lower selling prices for the negative report. Shares rose 3/16 to close at 18 1/16. See press release.

Schuff Steel Co. (SHUF)
shuf
reported a second-quarter loss of 4 cents a share. Wall Street's consensus estimate was a profit of 28 cents a share. The report also missed last year's pro forma profit of 29 cents a share. The steel company also reported a definitive agreement to buy Six Industries Inc. for $16 million. Shares closed down 3 1/8, or 26 percent, to 8 7/8.

DuPont (DD)
DD, -2.73%
warned third-quarter earnings will be at the low end of the analysts range of estimates. First Call's current consensus estimate is a profit of 75 cents a share. Last month the company said earnings would fall short of the year-ago profit of 86 cents a share. Shares fell 5 3/8 to close at 55 1/8. See press release.

General Cigar Holdings Inc. (MPP)
MPP, +7.38%
warned its third-quarter earnings will miss Wall Street's consensus estimate. Earnings are expected to run between 15 cents to 20 cents a share. The company also believes the full year 1998 will fall short of last year's results. Favorable results aren't expected until mid 1999. Shares fell 13/16 to close at 6 13/16.

Finish Line Inc. (FINL)
FINL, -0.57%
told investors it expects its second-quarter earnings to be between 29 cents and 34 cents a share. Wall Street's current consensus estimate is a profit of 40 cents a share. Shares closed down 3 11/16 to 10 1/16.

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